The term that is transliterated as “Joseph” in English is translated in American Sign Language with a sign that relates to a) the coat he wore (see Gen 37:3), b) the holding of his clothes by Potiphar’s wife (see Gen 39:12), and c) the many times Joseph experienced grief. (Source: Ruth Anna Spooner, Ron Lawer)
“Joseph” in American Sign Language, source: Deaf Harbor
In Spanish Sign Language it is translated with a sign that signifies “dream,” referring to Jacob’s dream at Bethel (see Genesis 28:10 and the following verses). (Source: Steve Parkhurst)
The name that is transliterated as “Judah” or “Judea” in English (referring to the son of Jacob, the tribe, and the territory) is translated in Spanish Sign Language as “lion” (referring to Genesis 49:9 and Revelation 5:5). This sign for lion is reserved for regions and kingdoms. (Source: John Elwode in The Bible Translator 2008, p. 78ff. and Steve Parkhurst)
Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 46:28:
Kankanaey: “When they were-soon to arrive, Jacob sent-ahead Juda to the location of Jose to go ask the trail that went to Gosen. When Juda then returned, then they went.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
Newari: “Jacob sent Judah ahead of him to tell to send him to tell Joseph to come to Goshen to meet him [EAH: I’m not sure I understand this]. When they arrived there” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
Hiligaynon: “Before they were-able-to-reach Egipto, Jacob commanded Juda to-go ahead to Jose in-order to-point to them the place of Goshen. When Jacob and-company arrived at Goshen,” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
English: “Jacob sent Judah to go ahead of the rest of them to talk with Joseph and ask for directions on how to travel to Goshen. Then Judah returned to the rest of his family and they all traveled to the Goshen region. When they arrived there,” (Source: Translation for Translators)
Verse 28 picks up the story line that was interrupted by the insertion of verses 8-27.
He sent Judah before him to Joseph: He is Jacob. Before him means that Jacob sent Judah ahead to where Joseph was.
To appear before him in Goshen: Revised Standard Version‘s footnote shows that it follows the src Samaritan Pentateuchsrc* and the src Syriacsrc* version. The Septuagint has “meet me,” which is followed by Good News Translation and others. The Hebrew text has “to show the way before him.”
Translators vary greatly in the way they translate this verse. There are three questions to consider:
(1) Did Jacob send Judah before he (Jacob) reached Goshen, to find out from Joseph how to get there? Or did Jacob send Judah to Joseph to show Joseph how to find Jacob, who is waiting for him there?
(2) What is the meaning and function of the last clause, and they came into the land of Goshen?
(3) Does they refer to Jacob and his people, or to Judah and Joseph coming from the Egyptian capital?
Revised Standard Version appears to say that before Jacob reached Goshen he sent Judah ahead to tell Joseph to come to Goshen, and (before or after Joseph arrived) Jacob and his people reached Goshen. However, New Revised Standard Version has revised this to say “Israel sent Judah to Joseph to lead the way before him into Goshen,” which can mean either “to show Joseph the way to his family in Goshen” or “so that Joseph could show Jacob the way to Goshen.”
Also in New Revised Standard Versionand they came … Goshen is linked with verse 29 as a time clause: “When they [Jacob and his family] came to the land of Goshen, Joseph made ready his chariot and went….” Thus in New Revised Standard Version it appears that Joseph waited in the capital city until he got word, presumably from Judah, that Jacob was in Goshen.
Hebrew Old Testament Text Project, which keeps the Hebrew text and gives it an {A} rating, says the whole verse should be understood this way: “And Jacob sent Judah before him to Joseph in order that Judah might show Joseph the way to Jacob in Goshen; and they arrived in the land of Goshen.” Except for the last sentence, Hebrew Old Testament Text Project‘s rendering is essentially the same as Good News Translation, which follows the Septuagint. However, Good News Translation and most modern versions link and they came into the land of Goshen with verse 29: “When they [Jacob and his people] arrived, Joseph got in his chariot and went to Goshen….”
The Handbook recommends that translators follow either the model of Good News Translation or that of Hebrew Old Testament Text Project, but link they came … Goshen with verse 29.
Quoted with permission from Reyburn, William D. and Fry, Euan McG. A Handbook on Genesis. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1997. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .
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